Trends in Obesity Among Adults in Mississippi, 2017–2023

The aim of this study was to analyze trends in rates of obesity amongst Mississippi adults between 2017 and 2023 based on five health determinants: gender, education, age, race, and socioeconomic status. We calculated standard errors using Microsoft Excel and performed trend analysis using Joinpoint Regression. Obesity prevalence among men showed a statistically significant increasing trend from 2017 to 2023, with an Annual Percent Change of 0.86%. Among adults with a college-level education, obesity prevalence significantly increased by 2.33% per year. For most age groups, obesity prevalence did not show statistically significant trends from 2017 to 2023, indicating relatively stable rates over time. There was a significant annual increase of 0.65% from 2017 to 2023 for African Americans. From 2022 to 2023, there was a statistically significant decrease in obesity prevalence for Hispanics. There was an annual increase of 0.70%, which was not statistically significant, for Whites. For the combined ≥USD 50,000 income group, obesity prevalence increased significantly between 2017 and 2019. Obesity remains a critical public health issue with widespread health consequences. Future research should explore the long-term impact of these trends and assess the effectiveness of ongoing interventions to guide more precise strategies for obesity prevention and management.